On May 16, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream Party Irakli Kobakhidze bemoaned the fact that, despite having a strategic alliance with the United States, Georgian people had far lower success rates in obtaining visas than those of their neighbors in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and even Russia (before sanctions). The interviewing journalist pointed out that Kobakhidze's kid is a member of a children's folk singing ensemble, which Kobakhidze used as the recent example of a group that reportedly failed to obtain visas in time for their tour in the US. Kobakhidze stated that the US Ambassador "should better take care of that issue" and brought up the incident. According to the chairman, a free trade deal with Georgia and the start of direct flights between the United States and Georgia "would cost the United States nothing."

On May 18, Kobakhidze criticized the US for not giving enough visas to Georgians. However, US Ambassador Kelly Degnan rejected this accusation. Ambassador Degnan said, "Sometimes people want to think that they should have special treatment."

In response to criticism, Amb. Degnan emphasized that thousands of Georgians are welcomed annually by the United States, including through cultural and educational exchanges. "Just last month, we issued visas to a group of thirty Tbilisi State Ballet performers to tour the United States," the ambassador remarked. "As well as visas for a group of Georgian dancers and singers who will perform at our Library of Congress to celebrate Georgia's Independence Day."

"Sometimes individuals want to assume that they should have special treatment and not have to go through all the stages needed," she responded. "But all of the information for getting a visa is online, [as are] the advice we make to assist people acquire their visas as fast as possible. Qualified people typically receive visas if they abide by the requirements and the guidance."